Dispensing device



Feb., l0, 1942. R. L. HoRsTMAN Y 2,272,465

DISPENSING' DEVICE Filed Allg. 13, 1949 ROBERT L HoRsrMA/v Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE Robert L. Horstman, Lakewood, Ohio K Application August 13, 1940, Serial No. 352,452

` 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing device adapted to dispense predetermined quantities of fluid in response to a manipulation for an individual application, for the purpose for which it is intended. More specifically, my invention relates to a dispensing device, adapted to dispense small portions of fluids, such as soap, tooth paste, and the like, for individual use.

An object of my invention is to provide a dispensing device embodying new and novel structural features, permitting the parts thereof to be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, for permitting cleaning operations, the structural features of said device being such that it may be produced at relatively low cost.

Another object is to provide a dispensing device which is self-cleaning in operation and therefore will not become clogged or blocked by the fluid being dispensed.

Another object is to provide a dispensing device adapted to be formed in a mold of a plastic material, thereby being susceptible of being produced at la relatively low cost and in attractive shapes, designs, and color for placement in a room of a home.

Other objects are to provide a dispensing device which is positive in action, leak-proof in operation, quickly and easily installed, and adapted to dispense various types of fluids.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following specification. y I

In the drawing accompanying this application and forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevationalview,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and drawnto a somewhat larger scale,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l, while Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plunger.

In the drawing, the numeral I I refers to the dispensing device generally, which I have found convenient to form of a plastic material, although other suitable materials may be used. By referring to Figure 1 it will be observed that the device simulates a human head, having a hat mounted thereon in general outer appearance.

It is not intended, however, to limit my inveni tion to any specific shape or design, as it is well known in the plastic art, that molds of various shapes and designs may be readily provided for producing desired shapes and designs, adapted to harmonize with the room and furnishings where it is used. For juvenile use the device may be formed in the shapes of animals, birds, or the like, to make it attractive to children and as an inducement to have them operate the device and use the contents dispensed therefrom for its intended purpose.

The numeraly I2v refers to that part of thedevice simulating a human head and includes two ears I3, two eyes I4, a mouth I5, lips I6, and a solid nose I'Ij capable of reciprocation and hence referred to hereinafter as a plunger. A hat I8, having a brim I9, anda crown'ZIJ, is mounted on the top of the head I2 and is formed integrally therewith, while a removable cap 2| constituting the upper surface ofthe hat crown 20, is provided with a peripheral flanged portion 22, adapted to seat on the top margin of the hat I8 in an obvious manner. If desired, the cap 2| maybe locked on the hat I8, but for most uses such locking is not considered necessary. The construction and arrangement of the'cap 2| and associated parts permits ready removal of the cap 2| from and placement on the top of the hat' I 8, thusaffording quick access to the interior thereof as hereinafter explained.

The head I2 is provided with a circular bore 23k aligned with the inner circular surface 24 of the hat I8, whilev a horizontally disposed circular bore 25 receiving the plunger I1 is provided in the head I2, as shown in Figure 2. A discharge duct 26 affords communication from the horizontal bore 25 `downwardly to the outside of the head I2,v where it terminates in a dispensing aperture 2`| surrounded by the lips I6, the lower lip serving to retain smallv particles of the dispensed fluid and, thus prevent the fluid from flowing down the Vouter surface of the mouth I5.

A horizontallyA disposed wall 28 separates the vertically disposed bore .23,of the head I2 and theY horizontally disposed bore 25 positioned thereunder, and is provided with an elongated slot 29, terminating in a somewhat wider circular slot portion SII, as shown in Figure 3. A generally U-shaped Wire spring 3|, positioned in the head bore 23, has one of its legs positioned in a bore 32 in the Wall' 28 while its other leg is positioned in a vbore 33- in the plunger I'I, as shown in Figure 2 One leg of the spring 3| is reciprocable along the slot 29, and the spring 3| serves to retain the plunger in its outward or normal position, shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

The inner end ofthe plunger II, as shown in Figure 4, is provided along its lower side with a short channel 34 communicating at its inner end with a somewhat longer channel 35 positioned in offset relation thereto. The plunger l1 is positioned in the bore 25 in such manner that the axis of the channel 35 is in the same plane as the axis of the discharge duct 26, but spaced therefrom when the plunger l1 is in its normal position, said channel 35, however, is disposed in such manner that when the plunger I1 is pressed inwardly, the channel 35 is in communication with the inner end of the discharge duct 26, thus forcing the liquid contained in the channel 35 outwardly through the discharge duct 26 in an obvious manner.

In order to facilitate the attaching of my dispensing device Il to a wall, a clamp 36, having a pair of inwardly extending portions 3l adapted to be received in a pair of cooperating vertically disposed slits 38 provided in a boss 39 formed at the rear of the head l2 is provided. Wood screws 4U may be used for securing the clamp 36 to a wall 4|, as shown in Figure 3. The clamp 36 is rst secured to a wall and then the device Il may be attached thereto by sliding it downwardly with the pair of inwardly extending clamp portions 3l' frictionally engaging the pair of vertically disposed slits 38. This construction permits the ready removal of the device ll' from engagement by the clamp 36 by lifting it therefrom.

The operation of the device Il is as follows. Preferably it is secured to a wall or other surface as hereinbefore explained, the cap 2l is lifted therefrom and a supply of the liquid tooth paste, or soap to be dispensed therefrom is poured into the bore 23, and passes through the slots 29 and 30 to ll that portion of the horizontal bore 25, located at the rear of the plunger I1, a portion of said liquid flowing through the channel 34 to the channel 35. When the plunger l1 is in its normal position the inner end of the discharge duct 26 lies inwardly of the end of the channel 35 and no liquid is permitted to pass through the discharge duct 26. When, however, the plunger Il is depressed against the tension of the spring 3l it forces the liquid lying in the bore 25 at the inner end of the plunger Il through the channel 34 into the channel 35, which is then in register with the inner end of the discharge duct 26, through the duct 26 and out of the dispensing aperture 2l. The spring 3| returns the plunger Il to its normal position as soon as pressure on the plunger l1 is released.

The Position and arrangement of the parts herein causes the plunger, when it is depressed, to build up such a pressure that the liquid contained in the device is ejected through the dispensing aperture 2l with considerable force and the discharge duct 26 is thereby kept free from obstructions. When using certain heavier types of fluids or liquids such as tooth paste or the like, the diameter of the discharge duct 26 may be increased somewhat to facilitate free passage of such heavier liquids therethrough.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the invention disclosed herein may be variously changed, used or modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacricing the advantages thereof, and that the embodiment of my invention disclosed herein is illustrative only and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispensing device, a plunger chamber, a discharge duct leading "from said Cil chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger 75 reciprocable in said chamber from a non-d1spensing position to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid, said plunger being provided at its inner end With a longitudinally extending channel which is out of registry with said discharge duct when said plunger is in a non-dispensing position the same being in registry with said duct when said plunger is reciprocated to its dispensing position, thus forcing liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger longitudinally along said plunger channel and out said discharge duct.

2. In a liquid dispensing device, a body structure, a plunger chamber disposed in said body structure, a discharge duct leading from said chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger reciprocable in said chamber from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid, said plunger being provided at its inner end with a longitudinally extending channel which is out of registry with said discharge duct when said plunger is in a non-dispensing position the same being in registry with said duct when said plunger is reciprocated to its dispensing position, thus forcing liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger along said channel and out said discharge duct, and a U-shaped spring having one leg secured to said plunger and another leg secured to said body structure, for returning said plunger to its non-dispensing position after it has been reciprocated inwardly in said chamber to dispense liquid.

3. In a liquid dispensing device, a reservoir adapted to receive a supply of liquid to be dispensed, a plunger chamber in communication with said reservoir, a discharge duct leading from said chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger reciprocable in said chamber from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid, said plunger being provided at its inner end with. a longitudinally extending channel which is out of registry with said discharge duct when said plunger is in a non-dispensing position the same being in registry with said duct when said plunger is reciprocated to its dispensing position, thus forcing liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger along said channel and out said discharge duct, and a U-shaped spring disposed in said reservoir and having one leg secured to said plunger and another leg secured to the housing for said reservoir, for returning said plunger to its non-dispensing position after it has been reciprocated inwardly in said chamber to dispense liquid.

4. In a liquid dispensing device, a plunger chamber, a discharge duct leading vfrom said chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger reciprocable in `said chamber from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid, said plunger being provided with a rst channel extending inwardly thereof from its inner end and a second channel in communication with said first channel, said second channel being positioned and arranged in such manner that it is out of registry with said duct when said plunger is in a nondispensing position and is in registry with said duct when said plunger is reciprocated to a dispensing position, whereby liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger is forced along said channels and outwardly through said duct when said plunger is reciprocated inwardly to its dispensing position.

5. In a liquid dispensing device, a plunger chamber, a discharge duct leading from said chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger reciprocable in said chamber from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid, means for returning said plunger to its non-dispensing position after it has been reciprooated to its dispensing position, said plunger being provided with a first channel extending inwardly thereof from its inner end and a second channel in communication with said l'lrst channel, said second channel being positioned and arranged in such manner that it is out of registry with said duct when said plunger is in a non-dispensing position and is in registry with said duct when said plunger is reciprocated to a dispensing position, whereby the liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger is forced along said channels and outwardly through said duct when said plunger is reciprocated inwardly.

6. In a liquid dispensing device, a reservoir adapted to receive a supply of liquid to be dispensed, a plunger chamber in communication with said reservoir, a discharge duct leading from said chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger reciprocable in said chamber from a non-dispensing position where it permits liquid to pass from said reservoir to said chamber to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid and close the communicating passage between said reservoir and said chamber, said plunger being provided with a rst channel extending inwardly thereof from its inner end and a second channel in communication with said rst channel, said second channel being positioned and arranged in such manner that it is out of registry with said duct when said plunger is in a nondispensing position and is in registry with said duct when said plunger is reoiprocated to a dispensing position, whereby the liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger is forced along said channels and outwardly through said duct when said plunger is reciprocated inwardly to its dispensing position.

7. In a liquid dispensing device, a plunger chamber, a discharge duct leading from said chamber to the outside of said device, a plunger reciprocable in said chamber from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position wherein it is reciprocated inwardly of the chamber to force out trapped liquid, said plunger being provided with a first channel extending longitudinally inwardly thereof from its inner end and a second channel in communication with said iirst channel and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, and offset from said rst channel, said second channel being disposed in the same plane as said discharge duct and positioned and arranged in such manner that it is out of registry with said duct when said plunger is in a nondispensing position and is in registry with said duct when said plunger is reciprocated to a dispensing position, whereby the liquid trapped in said chamber at the end of said plunger is forced along said channels and outwardly through said duct when said plunger is reciprocated inwardlyy to its dispensing position.

ROBERT L. HORSTMAN. 

